Tibet

Since Shi Jingtang sold Youzhou to Khitan in the Five Dynasties, it has been separated from the Central Plains for hundreds of years. It was not until the establishment of the Ming Dynasty that Youzhou finally returned to the court.

In fact, since the Tang Dynasty destroyed Goguryeo, Youzhou has begun to undergo many changes, and a large number of Goguryeo people have been settled in Youzhou.

In addition, after An Lushan began to manage Youzhou, Youzhou became a paradise for roaming thieves from all over the world. Here, all charges can be washed away and they can start a new life with a legal identity.

Youzhou also became a paradise for Donghu people. Goguryeo people, Khitan people, Xi people, Bohai people, and a large number of foreigners became professional soldiers here, and their families settled here.

At the same time when the Tang army captured Hejian County and destroyed Li Baochen, the 120,000 Huihe army and logistics herdsmen also entered Youzhou from Juyongguan.

With Zhu Ci's 40,000 troops, Youzhou had a total of 160,000 troops. With the Khitan army and Goguryeo people who were eyeing the enemy, Youzhou was a burning furnace at this time.

The dark clouds of war were hanging over Youzhou, and a war could break out at any time.

In fact, since the late period of An Lushan, the people of Youzhou have been living in constant wars. A large number of people fled, and the population of Youzhou declined. The residents of Ji County, that is, the city of Youzhou, were less than 100,000, which was 70% less than the 300,000 at the peak.

The Juma River in the south is the dividing line between Hebei and Youzhou, and it is also Li Ye's bottom line. He will never allow the iron hoofs of the Uighur army to step over the Juma River.

The gates of Youzhou City were wide open, and Zhu Ci personally accompanied Dengli Khan and 10,000 guards into the city.

The gates were beating gongs and drums, and it was lively and noisy. On both sides of the central axis Fanyangmen Street, every household was forced to burn incense and kneel to welcome the Uighur Khan into the city.

The Huihe army slowly entered the city and marched in formation on the streets of Fanyang Gate. Seeing the people on both sides trembling and prostrating themselves, Dengli Khan was quite satisfied.

He smiled at Zhu Ci and said, "When my army destroys the Tang Dynasty, you go to Chang'an to be the emperor, and Youzhou will belong to me, okay?"

Zhu Ci smiled flatteringly and said, "If you can completely annihilate the Tang army, not only Youzhou, but also the whole Hebei will be given to Khan!"

"Okay! Let's make it a deal, everything north of the Yellow River will belong to me!"

Zhu Ci's face changed slightly. The Hebei he mentioned refers to Hebei Road, not the entire north of the Yellow River. But on second thought, if you can get half of the Tang Dynasty, why bother about the land north of the Yellow River?

He immediately smiled and said, "Not only the north of the Yellow River, but also the gold, silk and women in Chang'an and Luoyang, I will give them all to the Khan!"

Dengli Khan laughed and patted Zhu Ci on the shoulder, "General Zhu is really considerate. I hope you can remember what I said today. If you can fulfill it, I will guarantee the prosperity of your Zhu Dynasty and our two families will form an eternal alliance!"

"I will keep my word!"

Soon, the team arrived at the Palace of the Prince of Yan. This was the palace built by An Lushan for himself. Later, Shi Siming continued to build it. The palace covers an area of ​​about 500 acres. An Lushan demolished the Taimiao and other buildings in Luoyang and transported the building materials back to Fanyang for construction.

Zhu Ci called himself the Prince of Yan, so this palace was called the Palace of the Prince of Yan. However, Zhu Ci did not live in it and it was always empty. Dengli Khan was very satisfied with this palace and immediately asked Zhu Ci for it and renamed it the Khan Palace.

He arranged for the twenty or so concubines who came with the army to live in the palace, and he also lived in it, enjoying the royal style.

That night, Zhu Ci ordered the slaughter of 100,000 sheep and the preparation of 50,000 jars of fine wine to entertain the Huihe army that came from afar.

There is an inn in the east of Youzhou City, called Shunfeng Inn, which is also quite famous in Youzhou City and can be ranked in the top five.

The innkeeper is called Wang Baofu, who is about 40 years old, short and fat, and always has a smile on his face. He is a businessman who is good at making money with harmony.

But in fact, Wang Baofu is an out-and-out intelligence scout of the Tang army. He has been in Youzhou for five years and has been responsible for collecting intelligence in Youzhou.

In the evening, a tall and thin man in a long gown got off an ox cart and came directly to the inn. The tall and thin man is called Fu Yuangui, a native of Anyang, Xiangzhou, and currently serves as the military assistant of the warehouse of Fanyang Army. He was instigated by Wang Baofu three years ago and was loyal to the Guanlong Army. Now he is loyal to the court.

Fu Yuangui was considered the second-class core figure of the Fanyang Army's civil servants. The first-class core figures were the five staff members who controlled Youzhou's political affairs, official power, finance, criminal law, and transportation. Zhu Ci discussed everything with the five of them.

Fu Yuangui was the trusted subordinate of Wang Zuyou, the financial staff member among the five core members. Wang Zuyou told him everything. Today, he got important information and immediately came to see Wang Baofu.

The waiter took Fu Yuangui directly to the backyard. Wang Baofu was writing a letter in the shopkeeper's room. The waiter poked his head out and said, "Boss, Wang Canjun is here!"

"Come in quickly!"

Fu Yuangui walked into the room and said with a smile, "The Huihe people are here. I guess the shopkeeper will be very busy!"

"Fortunately, my first express letter has been sent out."

Wang Baofu stood up and poured him a cup of tea, smiling and said, "You came here, there must be good news!"

Fu Yuangui picked up the teacup and sat down and said, "Early this morning, Wang Zuyou conveyed the order to transport 200,000 stones of grain and other supplies to Yi County."

Wang Baofu pondered for a moment and asked, "Zhu Ci's army is going to enter Yizhou. Will the Huihe army also come with it?"

Fu Yuangui nodded, "Yizhou has too many mountains, which is not conducive to cavalry combat. I guess the Huihe army's logistics will enter Yizhou, and then Zhu Ci will send part of the troops to assist the Huihe army in combat."

"Any other important information?"

"Also, Zhu Ci's army has begun to gather, and it is estimated that they will go south today, and the same is true for the Huihe army."

Wang Baofu immediately wrote a second letter and handed it to a waiter, asking the waiter to rush to Juma River to deliver the letter.

The news of Tian Chengsi and Li Baochen had already spread to Youzhou, and even Zhu Ci had received news that more than 200,000 Tang troops were deployed on the Juma River line. More importantly, Li Ye was also at Juma River.

Dengli Khan did not care about the life and death of Tian Chengsi and Li Baochen. He was interested in the fact that Li Ye was also at Juma River. This news filled him with expectations.

The next afternoon, he personally led 120,000 troops and Zhu Ci's 30,000 troops to go south together.

And Yizhou became their important logistics base.

The Juma River was also the main battlefield for the Song Dynasty army and the Khitan army to fight. However, the Juma River in the Song Dynasty was not wide. In addition, the Khitan people managed Youzhou and had advanced technology. They created various advanced technologies for crossing the river. Therefore, the Juma River was repeatedly breached by the Khitan army, and the war often unfolded on the Song Dynasty side.

The Tang Dynasty had a warm climate and abundant rainfall. The water volume of each river was far greater than that of later generations. The Juma River was the same. It was wider and had more water than the Song Dynasty and even later generations. It was unrealistic to cross the Juma River directly on horseback. It was necessary to build a floating bridge.

The Juma River was an average of 30 feet wide, with the deepest water reaching 3 feet, and generally 1 or 2 feet deep. The entire river was narrow in the west and wide in the east. The water flow was also turbulent in the west and gentle in the east.

Therefore, the army generally chose to cross the river in the middle, where the water flow was not fast and relatively gentle, the river surface was not too wide, and both banks were very flat, which was very suitable for cavalry crossing the river.

The focus of Li Ye's army's defense was also in the middle section of the Juma River.